The MLP Blues Guitar Course

[specflec]

Originally Posted by sliding tom

Thanks, BOBBO!
specflec: Thanks also and I think I know what you mean.

I just mean that, having sat through way too many theory classes and been involved in too many discussions among music theorist, that the theory becomes the end all and not the vehicle for understanding the music. Theory exists as a way of explaining music and therefore a great tool when attempting to understand it. It is too bad that, for many, theory tends to be unimportant and I can see why, when it is presented without direct context to actual music.

Thanks again.

[jerryo]

'The thrill is gone' (Gary moore version or BB King version)

we need a sort of walk through on that tune... may players cite it as

one of the first songs they learned to play with.

Its smooth...and its blue

Thanks

[jonesy]

Great Thread!

[sliding tom]

Thanks, guys!
About "Thrill is Gone": Most books and courses on blues guitar work by teaching licks and tunes but I don't believe that it's the right way to do it, that's why I have avoided covering it so far (except for "Stormy Monday" which I covered to demonstrate the application of certain chords and changes). Learning that way makes you into a player who only strings together licks he / she has memorized or someone who can play two dozen classic blues tunes but wouldn't be able to work his way through a jam or a tune that he's unfamiliar with. I think it's much better to learn the building blocks in terms of song structure/rhythm/ chord voicings/lead playing patterns etc. etc. and work your way up from there because that way it is much easier to learn and understand specific tunes and licks and leads and solo approaches.
I have had "Thrill Is Gone" on my mind as a classic piece when we will cover minor key blues.
Is that O.K. with you all?
I will definitey cover at least a couple of classic tunes and riffs further down the road. Let's see how far we can go.

[jonesy]

YouTube - B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone: 1993/Live At B.B. King's Blues Club, Blues Summit

YouTube - B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone: 1993/Live At B.B. King's Blues Club, Blues Summit

You Tube

You Tube

[PapaSquash]

Originally Posted by sliding tom

Thanks, guys!
About "Thrill is Gone": Most books and courses on blues guitar work by teaching licks and tunes but I don't believe that it's the right way to do it, that's why I have avoided covering it so far (except for "Stormy Monday" which I covered to demonstrate the application of certain chords and changes). Learning that way makes you into a player who only strings together licks he / she has memorized or someone who can play two dozen classic blues tunes but wouldn't be able to work his way through a jam or a tune that he's unfamiliar with. I think it's much better to learn the building blocks in terms of song structure/rhythm/ chord voicings/lead playing patterns etc. etc. and work your way up from there because that way it is much easier to learn and understand specific tunes and licks and leads and solo approaches.
I have had "Thrill Is Gone" on my mind as a classic piece when we will cover minor key blues.
Is that O.K. with you all?
I will definitey cover at least a couple of classic tunes and riffs further down the road. Let's see how far we can go.

This is me. Years ago as a teenager my older brother taught me rythym tracks so he could practice leads . I learned by rote: "do this - and repeat."

I gleaned a bit of what was going on, but I'm glad you are taking this approach. I want to learn, not just train my hands.

[jerryo]

Good point sliding tom...

I am gonna stick with the program as it unfolds

[sliding tom]

So far we have explored the pentatonic scale lead playing pattern based on the G chord shape.
Now let’s move to another pattern. This one is based on the E chord shape and in direct relation to the corresponding chord position yields the major pentatonic scale - but when you view it as the relative minor it is also the minor pentatonic scale for the key three half steps lower (recap: relative minor = three halfsteps below major).

Here again is our minor pentatonic lead pattern based on the G chord shape - key of A, root notes in yellow:




Remember?

Now here is the lead pattern based on the E chord shape - in the 8th position. This would be, as explained above, the major pentatonic lead pattern in the key of C corresponding with the E chord shape barred at the 8th position yielding a C chord..

Pentatonic lead pattern E chord shape, 8th position, key of C major or A minor:




The red dots are the notes most often used for A minor pentatonic. There’s a ton of leads being played in this area of the fretboard in classic blues recordings.



Now it gets interesting: let’s combine the G shape pattern and the E shape pattern - it’s easy because they overlap and one (E pattern) directly connects to the one before (G pattern).







The black dots highlighted in red are the frets where the two patterns overlap. The positions with the smaller red dots on strings E, A and D will be used rarely because you can get a more fluid lead going by changing your playing position from the G pattern to the E pattern back and forth transitioning on the G string.

As always: this in the Key of A just for convenience but can be moved to any position on the fretboard.
(since requested: move it to the key of B - two frets higher and you have all the notes you need to play “Thrill Is Gone”)

Have fun!
Tom

[mikemack]

Ughh. Im behind. Life is busy. Think Ill go back to the beginning

[Kuroyama]

OK!!! Im still behind BUT the dog didnt eat my homework

Fact is, I work a lot. I work in Japan as an engineer. Lets just say I'm very familiar with overtime. So when I'd come back to this thread, it was sometimes a chore to figure out where I'd left off. (And I was getting distracted by other threads: "Should I buy a Robot Gibiphone or a Holy Tribal Epison Paul??") Sooooo heres what Ive done.

I went back through this thread and focused on Sliding Toms great information, YouTube vids, and links. I cut out the "Thank Yous", and questions. (ST did set up a separate thread for questions...!) What I'm left with is a text document of pure Blues Info.

If its cool with you Sliding Tom, Ill post up the Summary, and everyone can get caught up offline. If there are any updates... well, I'm guessing were all subscribed, so well know to check back.

Whaddaya think?

[rambler]

Cool thread, nothing I didn't know already (yet) but having everything in one place, explained so well with examples is awesome. Can't wait for your next installments :].

A cool practice thing that I do is play licks with my internal blues backing track going, trying to make the chord changes noticeable while not playing any chords, harder than it sounds.

I can show this thread to anyone wanting to learn and understand the blues and they'll have heaps of good info at their fingertips, hopefully I can give it to some of my mates who seem to think that the blues is eaaaaasy and they've already mastered it. I just lol at them and say "just because you shred the pentatonic and bend every so often doesn't mean you're playing real blues". Restraint is such a key thing in soloing, don't go out there trying to impress people, if you're good, people will realise this. Knowing when to hold back and when to let loose is key (probably more relevant in a blues-rock style with extended instrumental sections, less so in traditional delta, chicago, or texas style blues).

A+ thread, bookmarked for future reference for myself and students of mine.

[Wizzle]

Originally Posted by sliding tom

Hi, since tab will be included here and there from now on, you need either powertab or tuxguitar software to be able to open the attached files. Both are freeware. I don't have any experience with tuxguitar but powertab is a great freeware to produce guitar tabs, play them back via MIDI, print them out in pro quality etc.

Here' sthe download links:

Power Tab .net - Download Center

.:: TuxGuitar ::. Open Source Tablature Editor :: TuxGuitar

You could try TabPlayer. It's easy to use and nce you have the piece tabbed out just save it as a text file. When you want to use it, open it up, copy it and paste it here in the Reply box.

TabPlayer mini-site: free guitar tablature editor and player for Windows

[hamp]

This thread is really helping me out. Thanks Tom!

[fast1]

Originally Posted by Wizzle

You could try TabPlayer. It's easy to use and nce you have the piece tabbed out just save it as a text file. When you want to use it, open it up, copy it and paste it here in the Reply box.

TabPlayer mini-site: free guitar tablature editor and player for Windows

this is pretty useful, thanks!

[rambler]

any more installments coming up ;x?

[sliding tom]

Originally Posted by rambler

any more installments coming up ;x?

Hi everybody! Unfortunately my PC fried more than four weeks ago, that's why you haven't seeen me around here for so long. I'm back up now (since about an hour ago) so expect more to come in a while. Thanks for all your appreciation.

[hamp]

awesome, I cant wait.

[guitarsmark]

Hey Tom, Awesome thread - I am learning lots about the blues!

[mattsblues]

Good thread and VERY useful.

I started playing the age of 24 (last Sept). Seven months ago I went to my first open jam, I was familiar with basic major and minor chords and the pentatonic box (not plural) and wow it was an eye opener. I would GREATLY suggest anybody who has never been to an open jam to go, it'll open your eyes, you will meet some great new people and LEARN a ton.

I had no clue what 1-4-5 was, I was clueless. Shortly after my first one I realized I had a lot of weak spots in my playing that needed to be addressed. A friend recommend a book to me from Matt Smith called Chop Shop. It is a great into to music theory for guitar. I have read through that thing and memorized everything.

I never thought music theory was important but it seems that most great guitar players (most) know theory extremely well. People are amazed that hear me play when they find out I haven't even been playing for a full year. Theory, lots of good structured practicing and a desire go a long way I think!

[rambler]

Originally Posted by mattsblues

Good thread and VERY useful.

I started playing the age of 24 (last Sept). Seven months ago I went to my first open jam, I was familiar with basic major and minor chords and the pentatonic box (not plural) and wow it was an eye opener. I would GREATLY suggest anybody who has never been to an open jam to go, it'll open your eyes, you will meet some great new people and LEARN a ton.

I had no clue what 1-4-5 was, I was clueless. Shortly after my first one I realized I had a lot of weak spots in my playing that needed to be addressed. A friend recommend a book to me from Matt Smith called Chop Shop. It is a great into to music theory for guitar. I have read through that thing and memorized everything.

I never thought music theory was important but it seems that most great guitar players (most) know theory extremely well. People are amazed that hear me play when they find out I haven't even been playing for a full year. Theory, lots of good structured practicing and a desire go a long way I think!

playing with other musicians has to be the single most helpful thing i've ever done, it forces you to up your game, stay in time, work in song format, carry some weight, and learn how to be musical and original instead of rehearsing scales or other peoples songs.. great practice

[mattsblues]

Originally Posted by rambler

playing with other musicians has to be the single most helpful thing i've ever done, it forces you to up your game, stay in time, work in song format, carry some weight, and learn how to be musical and original instead of rehearsing scales or other peoples songs.. great practice

Yep - exactly. I think it also helps you learn how to apply what you practice. I had that problem with modal playing, it is easy to practice modes but actually applying that and playing a modal solo out at jams is a bit different.

[FretMastaFlex]

Yep, playing with others is the way to go. You get all that as well as insights into new ideas, styles and ways to manipulate the strings. My guitar playing has always developed and evolved fastest when I'm playing with others frequently.

[recsec]

This is great. I'm taking lessons on playing the Blues and this is really expanding my learning. Thank you!!! Keep it coming.

[tang350]

This is a great thread with a lot of terrific information! I have been playing about a year or so and have learned a lot from all of you on this forum. Tom, you have really made a lot of things "click" in my musical head. I am having to go back and review a lot but it's really making sense.

I cannot thank you enough

[One Vision]

Great thread.

I think the only reason people are "afraid" of learning theory, is because they associate it with "rules", claiming they don't want to be limited. No matter which way you look at it, theory is everywhere, and every single piece of music can be explained theoretically, even John Cage's "4'33".

Theory is just a way of communicating musical ideas from one musician to another.

[Jayce62]

Wow
My old guitar teacher covered all this stuff with me...
I thought he was crazy making me learn all major and minor scale positions and naming every note on the fretboard and knowing the relative minor chord of every major chord.

I think I will thank him next time I see him.

[PINKBITS]

Originally Posted by jonesy

Great Thread!

Agreed, excellent.

[Raku10]

Great thread, I'm learning a lot here.
I sat down tonight and really tried to memorize the note names on the pent scale.

[harpman54]

Great thread. Soooo much useful teaching here. My learning process is the same as building a brick wall, a piece at a time. So far, this thread has put a lot of the pieces available for me to use. Practice time is the limiting factor though, I've got to get more of that in order to progress, but this thread is something I know I'll keep coming back to time and time again. Thanks!

bill

[Harmony]

A great thread